Chess Anyone?

“Nanny” said my 6 year old grandson Ethan, “Can we have a game of Chess?”

I’m always up for a Chess game. Dad started to teach me Chess when I was about 5 or 6, and I still use the same board and pieces that we used back in the 1960s and early 1970s. Dad never let me win, although I suffered (and so did he I expect) many meltdowns as a result. Mum would implore him to let me win, but he always stood firm and replied that letting me win would do me no good at all. Okay I never beat Dad, but when I was 12 I did beat my uncle. I felt like dancing around the room, and so did Dad!

I taught my two boys to play, which helped Leon no end with his concentration. I never let them win either, and by the time they were teenagers they took great delight in beating me fair and square at the odd game or five.

Marc has now started to teach Ethan. So on Sunday when they came to lunch Ethan and I sat down at the Chessboard and started to play. My daughter-in-law hovered by my right shoulder, expecting me to let Ethan win. However, I had no intention of doing so, as I realised my dad had been right. Letting Ethan win would do him no good at all.

The meltdown came when he was left with three pawns and a king. He stomped off and announced he was not going to play anymore. Memories came flooding back of myself doing exactly the same thing and Dad quietly packing up the Chess pieces and putting them back in the box.

I picked up the Chess pieces and put them back in the box. What goes around comes around!

Would you let your six year old win, or do you think that letting them win would do them no good at all?

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25 thoughts on “Chess Anyone?”

I think you are right! It never does good to let someone have a mistaken belief of their ability or skill. Let them earn it, the old fashioned way. Besides, I believe that teaching someone to persist in the face of failure is teaching them to be stronger and want to get better. I don’t throw game at any sport or game.

Loved this post! There is research to show that chess is helpful in the rehabilitation of criminals. It teaches consequences, skill and pride as well as logical thinking.
The best book on learning chess I’ve read is “Made Simple Teaching Library’s book on chess! Check it out for your grandson!
Super post!
xoxo

In a world where “everyone wins” something gets lost. Not everyone can win. This is obviously 6 year old behavior. You learned, I learned that. Kids today, who get trophies for participation really don’t learn and they point misses at each other and have scorched earth policies when they grown up

I agree with the principle, Stevie. I was never any good at chess – I can’t hold all the potential follow up moves in my head like the experts do. (I guess that’s why I am more of a pantser than a plotter when it comes to writing.) Same goes for card games like Bridge and Poker. I used to enjoy playing backgammon with my son.

Your dad was a wise man. My dad didn’t let us win, but he taught us how to win and how to be good sports when we didn’t. He encouraged us to be competitive and to play fair which has served us well. We didn’t play chess but many other board games as we didn’t have a TV and of course we played cards. I loved monopoly and we would play the game for days sometimes. Great memories.

I do not believe in letting children win or giving them accolades for mediocre work. There is far to much of this that happens nowadays with the result that children do not think they have to work to achieve.